Thursday, May 17, 2007

Trillium Gift of Life Network Recognizes Police Officers During National Police Week

Police officers are valuable partners in saving more lives in Ontario

May 14, 2007 - Toronto, ON – Trillium Gift of Life Network (TGLN) marks National Police Week by acknowledging the valuable contribution played by Ontario’s policing services in organ and tissue donation. TGLN recognizes the commitment and on-going support of Ontario’s police officers to save and enhance more lives in Ontario.

“We recognize that police officers across Ontario go above the call of duty to help honour a family’s wish to donate their loved one’s organs and tissue,” said Frank Markel, President and CEO of TGLN. “Their commitment to donation has helped provide the gift of life to those waiting for a life-saving organ transplants. This has certainly helped us achieve a new record for organ donations in Ontario” he added.

On April 23, 2007, TGLN announced that the 2006-2007 fiscal year ended with 184 deceased donations, up from 169 deceased donations in the 2005-2006 fiscal year.

“Police officers from around the province consider it an honour and a privilege to play such an important role in helping to save and enhance lives through organ and tissue donation,” said Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Commissioner Julian Fantino. “The OPP is proud of its history of involvement and support for organ and tissue donation in Ontario, and will continue to work with Trillium Gift of Life Network to realize the life saving potential that donation holds.”

“Police officers act as a valuable partner in our work. They go the extra mile to see that donation opportunities are successful. They assist in quick and safe transportation of organs and related specimens in critical situations, where the opportunity to provide the gift of life may have been otherwise missed,” said Charles A. Smith, Director of TGLN’s Provincial Resource Centre. “In addition to their direct involvement in donation, their community involvement has helped spread the message that organ donation saves lives,” he added.

Today in Ontario, 1748 patients are on the waiting list for a life-saving organ transplant. Of those, 1086 are men, 632 are women and 30 of those patients are children.

TGLN applauds Ontario’s police officers for their professionalism, commitment and community involvement to save and enhance more lives in Ontario.


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